I did my first mow of the season last week and intentionally left “islands” of dandelions and other goodies unmowed for the bees. I’m getting ready to go out there and mow again, and possibly trim the tops off the already seeded dandelions.
There is not much I can physically do to “redo” the yard to all meadow, nor do we have the budget, so I’m just trying to make the best of what I have for the pollinators. Ideally I would like to cut out the sod in those areas and start over from scratch with native wildflowers, but I cannot at this time.
How do I make my front yard look more intentionally mowed to keep flowers for the pollinators, without it looking like I “just neglect” my front yard? We are not in an HOA but we don’t want to have a neighbor call the city on us either.
by Lunsters
20 Comments
Forgot to add I’m in KY/7a
Landscape borders.
I think a small border of rocks lining the edge of the unmowed parts would make it look more intentional.
plant more flowers
I just bought a wildflower seed mix for my zone. Never tried it, but it looks like a mix of nice flowers. I like the island idea you have there.
Seconding the comments already here. *hardscaping* (the non-living components of landscaping) is a critical component of landscaping.
Deliberate hardscaping always adds an intentional look. The less intentional your plants like, the more hardscaping will help offset.
Edit: personally, I’d do a rock/paver boarder around the three islands in the picture. Leave about 1.5 mowers width minimum between the islands. And this winter when things die back fill in with mulch. Then mulch again in the spring. Let your flowers growing up through that.
Borders… rocks are easy …
Put a cute little sign that says, “Unmowed for polinators” or something like that.
I have huge Goldenrod and Frostaster in the front yard. It looks terrible. So this year, I am pulling them until they form a circle. Then I am going to plant the much smaller brown eyed Susan’s around the circle. I’m hoping to get it to look like I had a plan. I guess that’s what it takes, to have the plants grown like stair steps.
If you are able to identify seed pods of common native plants, (using guidebook, online native resources) you can gather them for free sometimes in the fall months. I do this at local parks in my area. Just make sure to also leave some for nature. You can then winter sow using the milk jug method to grow natives for almost free 🙂
I used fallen branches and made a border with them. Cut into 12 inch segments and stood then around. Rocks are expensive
I have these signs for both sides of my yard (I’m a corner lot) which really helps with the awkward no flowers yet season. I’ve had them for three years and take them in for the winter, and they’ve held up really well! https://www.etsy.com/listing/567106207/?ref=share_ios_native_control
Outline them with bricks
Look up garden clubs in your area. Contact wildflower societies. Now is the perfect time as people are subdividing natives that spread and you may be able to get some for free! My city has an annual seed swap the first weekend in May, there may be a group near you that does something similar. You could put in a few stakes and plant something like peas (pretty cheap, fast growing has flowers) in the center of the areas if your search comes up short.
Walk around your neighborhood, look for people who have day lilies and irises. These often need to be divided. Be a weirdo and ask if they have any they are getting rid of. (I usually just pot mine and put them next to a “free” sign)
If you are worried about neighbors calling, put up a sign that says “Please ignore the tall grass, native insect habitat”.
Flower seed is generally very cheap. Scrape to loosen up the dirt a bit and just flood the area with seed.
If interested, clover seed is dirt cheap.
That’s a hard place to be in. Hear you that you don’t have the ability to clear the sod and plant wildflowers right now. But, I’m not sure it’ll ever look intentional if it’s mostly just tall grass with some dandelions. I’m not in a HOA either but we can be cited per city code if grass is higher than 9 inches, and there’s limits on what percentage of my yard HAS to be lawn.
Edge, add flowers, remove turf grass. You want it to look different from overgrown lawn, as it looks right now. If you really want to go far, add little labels like a botanic garden for the flowers.
Corten steel edging is easy to install and looks cool. Or rocks.
Put some rocks in a circle around the patch. Throw a whole bunch of native seeds inside so you get more variety.
Edge it either by cutting the edges with a sharp shovel or by laying bricks end up.